Page 81 of Running Feral

“Tobias? Are you alright? We can come back another time if you need to.”

He listens to me, then nods slowly, like the question took some time to process.

“I’m fine. I want to see her. Let’s go in.”

“Okay. But I’m here if you need me.”

I make sure to trail behind when he finally opens the door and steps inside. I’m here for him, but I don’t want to intrude on their moment. I probably should have asked him if he wanted me to wait outside, but it’s too late for that now.

Plus, he’s not the only one with irrational-hospital-kidnapping anxiety. I’ll go if he wants me to, but I’d much rather keep him where I can see him until we get the hell out of here.

As soon as Tobias and Anika see each other, things get emotional. I almost tear up as well, like I’m watching one of those YouTube videos of dogs being reunited with person after years of being apart.

They hug and huddle close, whispering to each other in intense tones, with voices too low for me to hear. I don’t want to intrude, so I try to look away as well. I think Anika is speaking to him mostly in Tagalog, while Tobias is answering her in English, but even if I can’t make out the words, the choked-up emotion in their voices is unmistakable.

I’m pretty sure I head Tobias whisper, “I’m sorry,” over and over, and it breaks my fucking heart. Part of me wants to tell his grandmother everything that happened to him. She deserves to know how much of a fighter he is, and how much he survived just to come back here for her. I know it would hurt her too much to know the truth, though.

After a few minutes, Tobias looks up at me. His eyes are bloodshot and bright with tears, but I’d take this any day overthe shut-down version of him I saw just a few minutes ago. He’s sitting, perched on the edge of her bed with her soft-looking hand held in his, and gestures to me to come closer.

I can’t repress the small smile that takes over my face as I move toward them.

“Lola, you remember Gunnar. He came with me when I visited before,” he says, before chewing at his bottom lip as we both think of all the unsaid things that followed that visit.

Anika nods. “I remember. Hello, Gunnar. Are you the one who’s been keeping my apo so busy all this time?”

I wince. “Yes and no, ma’am. It’s been a difficult couple of weeks. I’ve been trying to help.”

“None of that,” she says, shaking her head at me. “No ‘ma’am’. It makes me feel old.” She looks me up and down, not bothering to hide the evaluation in her gaze, but not unkind with it either. “How old are you?”

“Thirty-six,” I say, barely swallowing the ‘ma’am’ that almost came out at the end. I feel too much like a teenager right now, showing up to pick up my date for the prom. I haven’t been nervous like this to meet someone’s family in ten years. It’s unsettling, and it’s making my brain get all its wires crossed.

She seems to consider this, and I worry for a second she’s about to tell Tobias to stay the fuck away from me because I’m too old for him. I wouldn’t judge her. But I’m way, way too deep in this to let go that easily now, so for everyone’s sake, I hope she doesn’t. I’m not sure what exactly Tobias told her we are, but it’s clear that she knows I’m more than just a random friend who gave him a ride to the hospital, and she’s evaluating me accordingly.

“That’s good,” she says in the end, letting me release the breath I was holding. She squeezes Tobias’s hand before reaching out with her other hand, trailing an IV line, to chuck him under the chin. “He looks like a grownup with a good job. Ilike it. You deserve someone to take care of you. There’s more to life than taking care of me all the time.”

Tobias frowns, stealing a glance at me before leaning in closer to her. “I’m still taking care of you, Lola. Nothing’s changed.”

She smiles, but doesn’t answer him directly. Instead, she turns to me again.

“You can call me ‘auntie’.”

I nod. I’m not sure what this means, but I feel like I’ve been accepted. At least in a probationary way.

“Auntie,” I say, before Tobias interrupts to get her attention.

“I told you, nothing’s changing. You’ll get better and then I’ll come home with you.”

A knock at the door interrupts the conversation, but no one says anything before it opens and someone steps inside.

A doctor, I’m guessing based on the white coat, stethoscope, and iPad. She’s in her fifties, with pale skin and the lost look of the chronically overworked, but there’s an inherent friendliness to her expression that offsets my sudden anxiety at seeing a stranger in the room.

“Mrs. Tanikon, how are you feeling today?” she asks.

“Better, doctor. My grandson is here to visit.” Anika points at Tobias.

The doctor freezes for a second before smoothing out the shock on her face.

“The famous Mr. Tanikon. We’ve been trying to get ahold of you. But your paramedic friend said that you were temporarily unavailable.”

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